Issues

The new direction:

Park County is taking a new approach to road maintenance. With the hire a Director of Operations with a career in CDOT and road building projects, he now oversees Public Works and hired Nick Bredsnajder our new Director of Public Works. Nick has a great road construction and administration background and is making huge strides in our road maintenance. This new leadership providing a new direction will deliver new results.

With our new Public Works leadership, Park County is developing a list of all county roads and ranking them from worst to best in each of the maintenance regions. In the winter and spring of 2024 Road and Bridge is building an inventory of gravel, clay and magnesium chloride, all binders needed to rebuild roads. Starting with the most critical roads in each region first, roads will be rebuilt to hold a surface, not just graded. This will be a multi-year endeavor, but the end result will provide noticeable improvements.

Eleven Mile Access County Roads 90 and 92

Since 2022 I have been fighting for funding to rebuild Park County roads that provide access to our State Parks. Working with State Senator Mark Baisley and Colorado Counties Inc., we drafted legislation SB23-059, to request the Colorado Division of Natural Resources, DNR, dedicate a portion of the excess proceeds from the Keep Colorado Wild State Park Pass to a grant for the maintenance and rebuilding of state park access roads. In 2023 the amended bill was passed by the Colorado Legislature and signed by Governor Polis. As amended the bill will allow local governments to add a $2.00 stipend to day park passes for road maintenance. It is recognized the stipend will not be enough to rebuild the roads, but over several years will assist with maintenance costs. Additionally, the bill will study the access road challenges and traffic beyond county numbers and make funding needs recommendations to DNR. I am involved in the study process and working diligently to communicate the dire need.

In 2023 I applied for $13.8 million in Congressional Designated Spending Federal Grants through Senator Bennet and Hickenlooper to rebuild and chip-seal CR's 90 and 92. Unfortunately, our road needs did not fit into the Senate grant criteria. In 2023, I also applied for a $2.4 million Community Project Funding, CPF, Grant from our Congresswoman. Park County was awarded $825,000 through the Transportation, Housing, Urban Development Committee appropriations and passed by congress. Now in 2024, the grant is being administered to Park County Public Works to make improvements to CR's 90 and 92. The finished roads will have a 6-8" base augmented with gravel road base and magnesium chloride binding material. The surface of the roads will hold much longer and provide a foundation for chip sealing when additional grant funding is obtained.

Colorado Forest Collaborative (CCFC), Advisory Council member since November 2023.

On July 26, 2023, the Wildfire Mitigation Specialist with Colorado Coalitions and Collaboratives, COCO, brought together a group of wildfire mitigation specialists and area leadership interested parties to discuss the United States Forest Service’s (USFS) Wildfire Crisis Strategy focused on the Pike National Forest. Initially the group was called the Southern Colorado Fireshed Advisory Committee. Members of the Pike National Forest Leadership (USDA), the Pike District Rangers, the National Forest Foundation, Colorado State University, Denver Water, Colorado Springs Utilities and Colorado State Forest Service entities came together to discuss shared-stewardship planning efforts and to form a comprehensive wildfire mitigation strategy throughout the Pike national Forest and surrounding private property.

The USFS has received major funding for wildfire mitigation is specific areas, including the Pike and has new tools to support and aid in the effort. The work is visible across Park County. Since that first July 2023 brainstorming meeting the entity was renamed the Central Colorado Forest Collaborative and an Advisory Committee was formed to develop a comprehensive working structure. A full suite of mitigation activities will be included along with aligning evacuation route clearing, working closely with fire districts, residents, agencies and diverse partners. The effort will lead to co-creating proprieties across the initial CCFC delineated area.

I have been working on this effort since the July 26, 2023, meeting, with the goal to build upon the work already performed in Park County and plan for future efforts. By identifying work performed in the Pike, building a plan to connect the areas of private property where great benefit can be gained with mitigation efforts, and then asking for funding from The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention, I hope to improve the overall resiliency of our county and residents.

Wildfire Matters ten-member Legislative Interim Committee

On July 18, 2024, I presented to the Wildfire Matters 10-member Legislative Committee vial Zoom to discuss Park County and the unique challenges of wildfire mitigation in a large land mass county, small population/resource county. The Committee is planning on running five bills in 2025 and are interested to learn where more assistance is needed.

My first ask was to make more mitigation funding available to property owners where an HOA may or may not exist to apply for the funding. Discussions will continue if and how these funds could be administered to property owners to pay for labor and slash removal.

My second comment was the need for a market for slash and logs too small for milling outside of the use for firewood. It would be great if the piles of slash and logs throughout Park County could be used for a positive benefit.

I also discussed the extreme challenge with homeowner insurance. Insurance companies do not look at the risk for each home, they lump the homes into a region and category and apply the risk on a broad basis. This results in some homeowners being rejected for insurance when they have mitigated and could qualify. This is a big challenge, but the Committee has been made aware of the problem.

Many of us have decided to retire in Park County, myself and my husband included! We made the choice to live in a great place, though it can be a challenge for older residents living in a remote location. We will never have the convenience of living close to groceries and services, but I want our Seniors to have the ability to age in place and enjoy living in Park County.

I am Vice Chair for the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments’ (PPACG) Commission on Aging. Our goal is to help older Coloradoans age in place, to stay in their home as long as they want to. Our efforts throughout Park County, Teller County and El Paso County focus on improving access to healthcare by expanding tele-health in the County, to simplify a digital visit with a doctor.  Park County libraries are working to provide tele-health access at each location. Those working at the library will be able to help anyone dial into an appointment, making access easier for those without digital skills or high-speed internet access.

Other challenges being addressed are to strengthen caregiver support, promote social engagement and inclusion and create age-friendly housing and transportation are in the works. These issues are more difficult to address in remote Park County, but if we do not try we will never achieve. We have ambitious 4-year goals. I am also involved with input on legislation that focuses on helping older Coloradoans through the Colorado Center for Aging. This work does not happen overnight, but we are making progress.

PPACG helps fund The Senior Coalition who has established several great programs: a frozen meals program with freezers situated in Guffey, Lake George, Fairplay and Bailey. These meals are available for those in need. We also have a volunteer driver transportation voucher program for people who need a ride to a doctor or grocery store. The volunteer receives payment for providing a ride. We have a chores program for those who need help making their home safer with ramps to doorways, installing grab bars in the bathroom and other safety improvement assistance. It is my goal to serve Park County seniors without raising taxes.

Government zero-based budgeting is kind of confusing if you are used to a profit structure budget along with a business profit and loss statement and a balance sheet type format. Here is an explanation of the budget and a 2024 budget summary.

Here are links to the 2024 budget summary of all funds and the revenue chart and expenditure chart. The full county budget and associated information can be found here: County website - budget

The county budget is managed and divided into funds. Funds are segregated by revenue source.  You can see by the attached summary; we have many different funds. The general fund is mostly property taxes rounded figure $11,500,000, plus other grant revenue and State and Federal revenue that is tagged to specific mandated services. That adds to $18,900,000 rounded.

Under the general fund we take care of Assessor, Commissioner, Clerk, Coroner, Sheriff, Surveyor, Treasurer, Admin, Budget and finance, 911 communications/dispatch, District Attorney, IT, Colorado State University Extension, Facilities and maintenance, Emergency Management, Libraries, Public Health, Development Services incl Building, Planning, Environmental and Code Compliance, GIS/Mapping, South Park National Heritage (Fed funding), incl. Historic Preservation, Wilkerson Pass Visitor Center, Veterans Service Officer, Broadband. 

We then have other stand-alone Funds that receive restricted revenue that can only be used for a specific purpose. Please see page 5 of the full budget for an explanation of other funds we have: Human Services, County Grant, E-911 Authority (dispatch), Conservation Trust Fund, Land and Water Trust Fund, Debt Services, ARPA Grant, Bailey Library Fund, Sheriff Search and Rescue and Seizure, Road and Bridge (Public Works), Capital Projects, Retirement, 1041 Fee Account, Lodging Tax and Risk Management Fund.

Example: Public Works is mainly funded by the Colorado Highway User Tax Fund that is provided by the State only for road maintenance. We cannot spend general fund monies on roads, per Colorado Statute except the HUTF state allocation or any specific grants that we get. We also have a small property tax mill levy for Road and Bridge (public works) that you can see on your tax bill to help with administrative costs. If you look on page 55 of the budget you can see the revenue received for Pub Works, HUTF, permits, grants, leases, etc.

Expenditures are provided by each department and fund manager starting in August for the coming year’s budget. The expenditures are subtracted from the revenue in each fund. We land at our Estimated Fund balance at the end of the year. The summary of All Funds 2024 Budget clearly shows the math.

We maintain a reserve balance in all funds. Mainly because we must pay January, February and March county vouchers before property taxes are collected and processed.  Also, just in case there is an unexpected emergency like a major blizzard, and we need extensive plowing on the roads (R&B Overtime and equipment), or other unexpected needs. Each fund must survive on its own, so we need to plan accordingly. Park County and all Colorado Counties cannot deficit spend. At the end of 2024 we will have an estimated $3.9 million balance in the General Fund, $2.8 million in Pub Works, $7.9 million in Land and Water Trust fund, mainly because projects have been approved but not all the work has been completed and expended to the project. The fund balances add up to $12.8 million that WE CANNOT SPEND!!!

Lastly, we have two Internal Service Funds, Fleet Services and Self-Insurance Fund. We Allocate these to the specific departments based on employee use of vehicles for county function or health care. We maintain a healthy reserve in these funds to make sure we can cover unexpected needs.  

Bailey Planning  - $2.2 million Congressional Designated Spending request

On March 28 2024, I applied for a $2.2 Million Bailey Conductivity Development Planning Grant through the Congressional Designated Spending (CDS) program. Applications were sent to both Senator Hickenlooper and Senator Bennet. Both Senators have submitted my request to the Senate Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Subcommittee for consideration. 

The CDS request is for planning for delineated parking, pedestrian safety, sidewalks, River Drive river walk planning all to be planned during the County Road 64/ Highway 285 bridge replacement planning. Excerpts from the Grant Application:

Conductivity Development for the Town of Bailey. This request is for planning and design funding to develop an action plan to implement multi-modal safe pedestrian access, delineated parking, and an approximate .3-mile river walk which will connect to an existing park and bridge over the South Platte, creating economic stimulation and conductivity to the town of Bailey. This grant will fund survey, planning, and design, to create an action plan to provide sustainable, ongoing benefit to the town of Bailey. 

The unincorporated town of Bailey in Park County is severed by Colorado Highway 285. Each side of the highway has no connectivity, with no safe multi-modal transportation options to access restaurants, businesses, and services. This connectivity will re-energize businesses, enhance the sense of community, and attract tourists who currently drive through Bailey and give them a reason to stop, patronize the businesses and enjoy the Colorado mountain environment.  Currently there are no safe pedestrian walkways in Bailey. The goal is to get people out of their vehicles and interact with Bailey.

Park County is currently funding a Bailey main street safety study that will be completed by the end of May or June 2024. This third-party study will be utilized in conjunction with this planning and design, clarifying the safety issues and providing useful information.  

Park County is currently planning, in conjunction with CDOT for a bridge replacement at Colorado Highway 285 and County Road 64, in the same area. The pedestrian safety, access and economic development plan will be tied into the in-process bridge replacement plan. 

Project purpose. The project is in alignment with Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, delivering positive economic development by creating a plan for multi-modal transportation, delivers pedestrian safety, supports a reduction of vehicle use, and improves the economic viability of Bailey delivering a positive community impact serving a long-unmet need.

Good use of Taxpayer Dollars: This Pedestrian safety and economic development planning and design project for the unincorporated town of Bailey will ultimately benefit much of the Bailey Community, Coloradoans traveling to the mountains as well as the many tourists that visit Colorado annually. By providing parking, safe pedestrian sidewalks and walkways, safety is improved for all. A connected town of Bailey will provide an appealing stopping point for travelers to fuel and refresh, allowing people to enjoy the river walk and Colorado’s beauty. The result will be improved economic stability of the area and sustainability of the town. The project once completed will be self-sustaining and maintained by the County.

This planning and design request is for phase one and will provide documentation needed to pursue additional funding for engineering, and shovel-ready construction. Park County will seek funding for the remainder of the project through other federal and state grants. Once construction is completed the project will be self-sustaining and maintained by Park County.

Phase one will provide the needed documentation to seek further funding for engineering and construction. The remaining phases are not part of this funding request.

Project total: $2,200,000. The survey, planning, and design will be conducted by already-approved vendors currently working with Park County.

Please see this article explaining the constitutionality of starting legislative meetings with an invocation.

Legislative Prayer: An Established Tradition that Does Not Establish Religion

Legislative_Prayer__An_Established_Tradition_that_Does_Not_Establish_Religion__Colorado_LegiSource.pdf

Health Service District - HSD. As your commissioner, it is my duty to thoroughly review proposed ballot issues to make sure they are well thought out. The proposed HSD was a request to form a new government entity in the Platte Canyon region, paid for by a 1% sales tax to be charged forever. I saw many issues with the request as it was presented.

The entities requesting this HSD did not publicly disclose all involved in the process, there was no transparency as to who all was behind this effort. I found that concerning.

The HSD was starting from nothing, with no building identified, no identified medical group interested in participating, no indication the effort could get off the ground. The plan for the health service district did not provide a timeline as to when services would be available to those paying the 1% sales tax. Additionally, the budget in the plan was wrong, the math did not add-up correctly. Should a plan be approved for possibly 1 million dollars per year annually when the applicants cannot do math? Additionally, the Park County Community Health Assessment stated that Park County’s population cannot support a doctor. There is already a clinic and doctor in Fairplay so how can just the Platte Canyon area support a doctor? I leaned on our Public Health Department’s assessment.

Per Colorado Statute, the recourse the entities requesting the Health Service District should have taken after the denial was to go to district court to request a review of the denial. They did not do that. Instead, they submitted a revised application which is not the recourse per statute.  

I support all in Park County. If access to a medical clinic which accepts all insurance including Medicare and Medicade, is desired in the Platte Canyon area, there is a more common sense approach. First form a nonprofit to spearhead the project. Find a reputable medical group or doctor interested in moving into Park County and then approach nonprofit entities who will help lay the financial foundation for a clinic. That effort would provide a foundation, a starting point for a possible formation of a health service district. With the presentation of a well thought plan and a comprehensive budget, that would be worthy for the voters to vote yes or no on a forever 1% sales tax, or better yet, a 5 year 1% tax that would allow the clinic to establish a patient base so it could survive on its own. Of course, the residents in the District will make the final decision if this path forward is right for them.

When the Platte Canyon School District started discussing putting the Rosalie property up for sale, several Bailey residents came to a work session asking the county to purchase the property.  We discussed the fact the county does not have a parks and recreation department, no funds to manage a park and the fact the Facilities Department does not have the manpower. It was suggested they form a nonprofit or group to develop a plan, like how the Park in Lake George is managed.

The school district then posted the land for sale using a sealed bid process. Upon doing our due diligence reading all the related documents it was learned there was a title restriction on the property, the residential zoned property could only be used for housing according to the details specified. The restriction meant there would be an unknown expense to find the heirs to the past owners who in 1969 placed the restriction and then ask them to remove the restriction. This information is all public information.

I believe the county, using taxpayer dollars, must not pay more than market value for a piece of property so when the bid price was discussed, my thought process was the bid total plus the expense to clean the title would in my estimation amount to a fair market value price range. The bid discussions were held in a BOCC executive session. Due to the perpetual confidentiality requirements of a Board of County Commissioner’s Executive Session, I cannot comment on the validity of the statements made regarding the discussion during an executive session. I will not comment on who recommended the bid amount since I have sworn confidentiality.

I believe the process worked as it should. The school received a high price for the land and the land will remain as open space to benefit the wildlife and residents alike.